Charles Piles

Tuesday

Dec 5, 2017 at 12:01 AM

Charles Foster Piles, 87, of Fort Smith died July 21, 2017, in Fort Smith. He was born Oct. 29, 1929, in Fort Smith to Sam Piles and Martha Clarice Martin Piles Fuqua and stepfather, Roy Fuqua. Charlie graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BS degree in 1951 and a MS degree in geology in 1955. He was a retired geologist in the oil and gas industry, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force attaining the rank of 1st lieutenant as a ground electronics officer during the Korean War and a member of Goddard United Methodist Church.

He is survived by one nephew, Frank and wife Donna Lynn Chapman of Bulverde, Texas; one niece, Donna Sue Chapman of Houston; one great-niece, Kisha Chapman Martinez and husband Robert of San Antonio; one great-nephew, Bubba and wife Lindsay Chapman of Boerne, Texas; and great-great-nieces and -nephews, Brendan Martinez, Emily Martinez, Lindan Chapman and Ryan Elizabeth Chapman. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Martha Piles; brother, John “Sonny” Piles; one sister, Myra Piles Becker; grandparents, Albert and Amanda Martin; and aunt and uncle, Ida and Frank Degen.

Graveside service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.